During John Wesley's student days, a poor porter knocked on Wesley's door one evening and asked to speak with him. During the conversation Wesley observed the man's thin coat. It was a cold night, and Wesley suggested that he had better get another coat. "This is the only coat I have," the porter replied, "and I thank God for it." Wesley asked the man if he had eaten and the porter answered, "I have had nothing today but water to drink but I thank God for that. "
Wesley, growing uneasy in the man's presence, reminded him that he would have to get to his quarters soon or be locked out. "Then what would you thank God for?" Wesley asked. "I will thank him that I have dry stones to lie upon." The porter replied. Wesley was deeply moved by the man's sincerity, and he said to him, "You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie on. What else do you thank God for?" The simple man replied, "I thank God that he has given me life, a heart to love him, and a desire to serve him."
There is something about thankful people, they inspire us not because their life is without burden but because they have a way of thanking God despite it all. Thanksgiving does not depend on blessings or living in times of plenty. Thanksgiving depends on having a thankful heart. Gratitude is one of the surest signs of spiritual health.  That’s how thanksgiving grows in power and strength when our blessings seem few and far between. Look at the Pilgrims. What did the Pilgrims do after landing on these shores? They gathered with their new neighbors for a Thanksgiving meal! Think about that. The Pilgrims gathered on a determined day to give thanks for what they did have. I find it incredible how they were moved to celebrate a time of Thanksgiving even though they had suffered terribly during their persecution in England and lost half the number during their voyage to the new land. Amid all their anguish and death, they did the only logical thing: they thanked God for all they did have. Thanksgiving does not depend on having a lot of blessings to count. It has all to do with thanking God for what we do have. Of course, God doesn’t need our thanks. God is all-sufficient. He doesn’t need anything. It is us that needs to say thank you. When we give thanks, we are reminded of the “source” of everything we have. So, may this Thanksgiving open your eyes to all that God has done in your life. And my prayer is that each of us will find some way to express how thankful we are this Thanksgiving. Amen.